1999 Chevrolet Corvette C5: Performance & Features

1999 Corvette Browse the article 1999 Corvette

1999 Corvette

Chevy introduced a C5 hardtop, casting the 1999 Corvette as the car for serious performance enthusiasts. Essentially a convertible with a fixed fiberglass roof, the hardtop's beefier structure made its body 12 percent more rigid than the coupe with the targa panels in place, and the car weighed some 92 pounds less. Plus, it retained the convertible's external trunk.

The 1999 Corvette offered three separate models for the first time with the debut
of a notchback hardtop coupe. The hardtop was stiffer, lighter, and less
expensive than other C5s, but the hatchback remained the most popular model.

While not exactly inexpensive, the hardtop did cost $394 less than the coupe. Yet it came with the 345-hp LS1 small-block V-8 under the hood and was fitted with the six-speed manual transmission (its only available gearbox) and the Z51 Performance Handling suspension, which otherwise added $1,165 to coupes and convertibles. Exterior colors were limited to blue, pewter, red, and white; and only the base black leather seats were offered -- without power adjustments. Several weight-increasing options were unavailable on the hardtop, such as the Real-Time Damping suspension. Likewise, a number of comfort-and-convenience items were restricted only to the coupe and convertible.

Enthusiast-publication reviews of the slimmer 1999 hardtop were generally quite positive, though their actual road tests showed only slight improvements in performance. Car and Driver, for example, reported a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds for the hardtop compared to 4.9 seconds for the coupe, and a quarter-mile clocking of 13.2 seconds at 110 mph versus 13.3 seconds at 109 mph. What's more, the hardtop's exterior was slightly less aerodynamic than the targa-top's version. Therefore, it reached a lower maximum speed of 169 mph in Car and Driver’s tests, while the coupe was able to make it all the way to 171 mph. Still, every tenth of a second apparently counted to die-hard enthusiasts and weekend racers; Chevy was able to sell 4,031 hardtops for 1999.

One new feature offered for 1999 coupes and convertibles was borrowed from high-tech fighter-jets: The $375 RPO UV8 was a sophisticated "Head-Up Display" system that projected instrument readouts onto the windshield so the driver could keep his or her eyes fixed on the road. Appearing in the lower left-hand area of the windshield, the driver could customize the display to include the full complement of readings, or just the speed, rpm, and/or other selected information. A "check gauges" warning would indicate times the driver needed to pay attention to a dashboard gauge or warning not duplicated on the head-up array.

Also added for 1999, and limited to coupes and convertibles at an extra cost of $350, was a power telescoping steering column that offered plus or minus 20mm of travel over the fixed-shaft version; the wheel's standard tilt function remained manually operated, however. Likewise, newly optional automatic-engaging "Twilight Sentinel" headlamps, priced at $60, were also excluded from hardtops. The $3,000 magnesium wheels returned to the options list and were also offered only on coupes and convertibles.

All 1999 Corvettes benefited from modifications to the car's magnetically variable power-steering system, implemented to make steering more sensitive and with less of a tendency to "wander" at highway speeds. So-called "next generation" airbags were designed to deploy with less force than before to help reduce airbag-induced injuries sustained in collisions.

The $38,197 hardtop helped lift sales to 33,270 units, with the coupe now selling for $38,591 and the convertible for $44,999.

In a serious performance statement, Corvette returned to factory-backed racing in 1999. Competing as a production-based sports car, the new C5-R was designed as a GTS-class racer that maintained the integrity of the production Corvette and shared a number of standard-issue components. These included the stock Corvette frame, engine block, windshield, taillights and marker lights, power steering pump, steering rack, alternator, water pump, and assorted suspension components. But it was almost four inches wider, had a carbon-fiber body that was loosely based on the production car's exterior, and its engine produced 255 more horsepower than a conventional Corvette.

The C5-R quickly established itself by finishing third in its GTS-class debut at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and claiming third place in the GT2 class.

Corvette thus began the new millennium with renewed momentum on the track, where it did battle with Vipers and Porsches; and on the street, where sales were healthy and performance unquestioned. America's legendary sports car was thriving.

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette
2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette
2002 Corvette2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

• Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
• Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
• Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
• Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
• Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
  
• Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.

1999 Corvette Specifications

In 1999 Corvette expanded its line again to include a notchback hardtop model. The hardtop was leaner, lighter, and stiffer than the convertible or coupe. Together, the three models offered an excellent balance of performance and comfort. Here are the specifications for the 1999 Corvette:

The performance-oriented 1999 Corvette notchback hardtop coupe came
only with the Z51 suspension and six-speed manual transmission.

Vehicle Specifications
HatchbackConvertible
Coupe
Wheelbase, inches
104.5
104.5
104.5
Length, inches
179.7
179.7
179.7
Width, inches
73.6
73.6
73.6
Track, inches
front: 62.0 rear: 62.0
front: 62.0 rear: 62.0front: 62.0 rear: 62.0
Height, inches
47.8
47.7
47.9
Curb weight, pounds
3,245
3,246
3,153

Mechanical Specifications (2-door hatchback/convertible/coupe)

Suspension
front: Independent; upper and lower A-arms, transverse composite monoleaf spring, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar
rear: Independent, upper and lower A-arms, toe links, transverse composite monoleaf springs, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar

Wheels/Tires
front: P245/45ZR-17
rear: P275/40ZR-18

Brakes
front: anti-lock 12.6-inch disc
rear: anti-lock 11.8-inch disc

Transmission
4-speed automatic
6-speed manual

Standard axle ratio
2.73:1 (auto) 3.42:1 (manual)

Engine Specifications

Typeohv V-8Displacement, liters/cu inch
5.7/350
Bore × Stroke, inches
3.90 x 3.62
Fuel ManagementSequential Injection
Horsepower @ rpm345 @ 5,600 Torque @ rpm, pound-foot350 @ 4,400

Published Performance Numbers

Acceleration345 hp, 6-speed manual (hardtop)
0-60 mph, sec
5.3
0-100 mph, sec
11.7
1/4-mile, sec @ mph13.6 @ 107.3

Source: Road & Track

Vehicle Production and Base Prices

Car Type
Production Price 2-door hatchback18,078
$39,171.00
2-door coupe
4,031
38,777.00 2-door convertible 11,161
45,579.00

Options and Production

Option Production PriceMemory Package
23,829
$150.00
Power Driver Seat3,716
305.00
Power Passenger Seat
28,575
305.00
Sport Seats24,573
625.00
Parcel Net2,738
15.00
Floor Mats
32,706
25.00
Body Side Moldings
19,348
75.00
Dual Removable Roof Panels
6,307
950.00
Removable Roof Panel, blue tint
5,235
650.00
Dual Zone Air Conditioning
25,672
365.00
Luggage Shade and Parcel Net
18,058
50.00
Selective Real Time Damping
7,515
1,695.00
Performance Axle Ratio (3.25 ratio for automatic)
14,525
100.00
Active Handling System
20,174
500.00
6-Speed Manual Transmission
13,729
825.00
Telescopic Steering, Power
16,847
350.00
Magnesium Wheels
2,029
3,000.00
Twilight Sentinel
18,895
60.00
Fog Lamps
28,546
69.00
Lighting Package
3,037
95.00
Delco Stereo System w/CD
20,442
100.00
Head Up Instrument Display
19,034
375.00
Bose Speaker Package
3,348
820.00
Remote Compact 12-Disc Changer
16,997
600.00
Front License Plate Frame
17,742
15.00
California Emissions
3,336
170.00
Performance Handling Package
10,244
350.00
Magnetic Red Metallic Paint
2,733
500.00

Color Choices and Production

Color Choice
Production Color Choice
Production
Arctic White2,756
Light Pewter Metallic
6,164
Sebring Silver Metallic 3,510
Nassau Blue Metallic 1,034
Navy Blue Metallic1,439
Black7,235
Torch Red8,361
Magnetic Red Metallic2,733

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette
2002 Corvette2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

• Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
• Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
• Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
• Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
• Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
  
• Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.